Large Scale Systems Museum

[W3WN]

Article in the local paper (well, what used to be the local paper, now an online shell of itself) about a computer museum in New Kensington, PA, that features 'large scale' mainframe and mini computers.

http://triblive.com/local/valleynewsdispatch/12104848-74/new-kensington-museum-preserves-computing-relics

The 'crown jewel' is a PDP/11-70

Incidentally, it appears that the owner of this museum may be AK4HZ (names match and the QRZ address matches that of the museum).

[n2ize]

My first real experienced started on a PDP-11. Also a DEC 20 and later the VAXen. It's amazing how computers and microprocessors have become smaller and smaller and more and more powerful. Almost everything has some kind of computer built in to performs some function. Even my newest RC helicopter has an onboard computer running software that replaces the mechanical (Bell-Hiller mixing) flybar. Instead while in flight the computer receives sensory input from the 6-axis gyro and and accelerometers . This enables the onboard computer to determine the attitude, position, and acceleration of the aircraft at any given instant in time and to compensate in much the same way that a mechanical flybar would, only better. Virtually all full scale rotary aircraft and rc model aircraft use this system nowadays as opposed to a mechanical flybar/stabilizer bar. . A decade or two ago this would have been impossible or at the very least, quite difficult.

Next, our cars will drive themselves. No need for drivers licenses anymore.

[KG4CGC]

They tell me that my phone could fly a fleet of shuttles, John.

[WA4GSD]

Is this considered "fly-by-wire"? Computer goes TU, vehicle goes down?

[KC2UGV]

Now this is pretty cool. Might need to make a trip there to visit!

[n2ize]

They tell me that my phone could fly a fleet of shuttles, John.They are almost correct. The stuff that can be done with modern day technology is incredible People carry far more powerful computing power in their pockets than an entire computer lab of the 1980's. Even the application for the RC helicopter that I described above is relatively simple and straight forward compared to what is out there as we speak. Yet a decade ago it would have been considered mind boggling state of the art. Yet here it is replacing older mechanical functionality and doing it in a way that is far more versatile, robust and dependable than it's earlier mechanical counterparts. Which leads to another aspect, many of these newer technologies are also extremely reliable. They do what they were designed to do and in most cases do it better. So yeah, as this stuff becomes smaller and more powerful and more prevalent the possibilities seem more and more unlimited. You may soon find yourself controlling that fleet of shuttles with your smart phone. :yes:

[n2ize]

Is this considered "fly-by-wire"? Computer goes TU, vehicle goes down?I would call it "fly by wifi". :)